All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

@James Hutson I'm planning to attend. Thanks for organizing. 

It also depends on the condition of the house. In general, I'd say make it as nice and functional as you possibly can. You don't necessarily have to do high-end upgrades but whatever you do, should be done well. 

I would replace it all.  It's nice to have a clean slate to work from and it will give you a chance to examine the joists and address any issues with the framing. 

@Padma Mody My problem with your first post is that it seemed disingenuous. 

Your gave the impression that she was being forced out by section 8 due to an irreparable HVAC system. That if it could have been fixed, she'd have been able to stay. That's why you got so many responses regarding it's repair. 

Perhaps it's just in the way you wrote it but if you wanted her out so you could renovate, you should have just said so in your first post. I see nothing wrong with that, as long as you gave her proper notice, etc. 

I also have no issue with you going there to see if she had vacated. I would have done the same thing. 

@Account Closed because this is a "landlord site" are we to always side with the landlord?  I agree that discourse should always be civil but I think this is a great site because we can get honest peer feedback regarding our decisions and practices as landlords. I don't want people here to ever automatically side with me out of a sense of filial duty. Don't you agree?

Yes, that's the thing to do. The waste lines too.  It will be a plus when you go to sell. 

@Curtis Harrison  I have no idea what the law says in this situation but as I read your post, I'm struck by how you try to completely distance yourself from this whole arrangement...yet you happily received the rent payments every month (minus $135.). 

Why not pay the tenants what they are owed (it's your property and they were your tenants)?  Then deal with the PM yourself...or just move on. 

@Jaime Penix  It's no different than anything else: it takes a lot of time and effort to be good at something. Anyone can take a test and get a license. It all depends on what you want to do.  I don't see it as a "supplemental" profession. 

Besides, why would you want your girlfriend to dump you?!  :)

@Padma Mody 

"Once the tenant move out, we are going to do major renovation. New roof, new HVAC, floor, kitchen and bathroom."

When did you plan all this work and how were you going to do it if section 8 hadn't 'forced her out' for you with the HVAC issue?  

I don't know...it sounds shabby. 

@Vicki K. I wish I could offer you the reassurances you seek but...

I don't understand how you could hire someone to do a project when you knew you didn't have the money.  What kind of "core principles" is that?  You seem to want to blame him but it's entirely a situation of your making. 

@Joe Hughes   You don't necessarily have to stage it fully (furniture,etc). Even a little bit of 'light staging' (a few items on kitchen counters, mantles, bathroom items, etc) can be effective. An empty house seems "cold"....staging warms it up a bit.